How to Wallpaper the Inside of a China Cabinet
Lara Robby/Studio D
HGTV Magazine transformed a secondhand china cabinet into a stunning display piece—click here to see how it was done! The steps below only apply if your cabinet’s backboard is not removable.
Step 1
Remove the shelves and lower doors (use a pencil to label each door to make rehanging them easier). Unscrew and discard the hardware from the upper and lower doors. If your cabinet has molding on the lower doors, pry it off with a screwdriver and discard it. Using a razor blade, scrape any decals off the glass doors.
Step 2
Lightly sand the entire cabinet, including the backboard and shelves. Wipe off dust with a tack cloth. Tape off both sides of the glass on the upper doors, as shown. Using a paintbrush, apply white paint and primer to the entire cabinet, including both sides of the shelves. Remove the painter’s tape while the paint is still wet. Let dry.
Step 3
Measure the cabinet’s backboard, and cut the wallpaper to fit. Using a paint roller, apply wallpaper paste to the wallpaper. Affix the wallpaper to the backboard, starting in the center of the board. Using a plastic smoothing tool, smooth the wallpaper. Repeat until the entire board is covered. Using a seam roller, flatten the seams. Repeat until the entire board is covered. Wipe off stray paste with a damp sponge. Let dry.
Step 4
Replace the shelves. Attach the new hardware to the upper and lower doors. Rehang the lower doors.